Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Developments in Christian Thought > Christian Moral Principles > Flashcards

Christian Moral Principles Flashcards

1
Q

Theonomous Christian Ethics

A
  • Ethics are governed by God’s laws or commands
  • For many this is only the bible
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Quote the second letter to Timothy and its support for Theonomous Christian Ethics and explain

A

“All scripture is inspired by God… for training in righteousness”
- View held by biblicist/fundamentalist views of the bible
- Supports the view that all scripture is inspired by God and therefore the Bible is moral instruction
- Bible is the source of morality as God is the author - any struggles is interpretation is our fault

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Story of King Davids relationship with Bathsheba as support of Theonomous Christian Ethics

A
  • Shows the teachings are not only in text but also in stories
  • The adulterous relationship shows not only the wrongness of the relationship but the failure of Davids moral character
  • He misused his King powers to kill Bathsheba’s husband and her husband, Uriah, is moral and everything that David is not
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How must the entire theological context of the bible be understood for Theonomous Christians?

A
  • As a covenant with God
  • The special promise and agreement from God that humans have to display special behaviour
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Old Testament Theonomous Christian Ethics

A
  • Covenant establishes both social and personal ethics
  • Ten Commandments act as a summary of these two ideas
  • Prophets, e.g Isaiah focus on the social ustice and the treatment of the poor as examples of the proper response to Gods covenant
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

New Testament Theonomous Christian Ethics

A
  • Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount as the centre of his moral teaching
  • New covenant is not only about keeping the law set but also about the inner law of love, peace and righteousness
  • Christians are to be ‘perfect’
  • Due to Jesus’ life leading to crucifixion and sacrifice humans are called a ‘living sacrifice’ by St Paul
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Example of the bible being interpreted too literally, even theonomous Christians dont do this

A
  • Jesus says ‘if your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away’
  • Who tf is actually going to do that
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Katl Barth and ‘bibliolatry’

A
  • Warns of the dangers of literalist interpretation as it gives the bible divine status which only belongs to God
  • This would lead to false worship of the bible
  • Gods word of revelation has worked through different writers, therefore they are witnesses of the word but not the Word itself
  • Bible itself is not the Christian truth but rather a a source of inspiration
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Contradictory passages in the OT and NT posing a challenge to Theonomous Christians

A
  • OT permits war and retributive justice ‘an eye for an eye’ in Exodus
  • OT allows capital punishment as a part of Gods judgement on those who blaspheme by destroying human life
  • NT retribution is replaced by reconciliation, love of ones enemy (Matthew)
  • Therefore some may argue that Jesus is attempting to instate the perfect Kingdom of God but the problem of contradiction remains
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Heteronomous Christian Ethics

A
  • The view that ethics are governed by several sources of authority or law
  • Christian ethics must consider a combination of biblical teaching, Church teaching and human reason
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

RC Natural Law as Heteronomous Christian Ethics

A
  • Theological Notion that as God is the creator of the world then all things have a good or natural purpose
    = Gods Eternal Law, being which achieve their purpose are in a state of flourishing
  • Thomas Aquinas’ notion of God given reason allows us to reason what is the correct thing to do and on the self-evident principle that we must do good and avoid evil (synderesis)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Four Tiers of Law

A

Eternal Law; underlying principles of the universe that God knows
Divine Law; Gods law revealed in the bible
Natural Law; Primary precepts, belong to humans and all beings, Secondary precepts, human and animal goal of reproduction, Third precept, human only and is reason, to worship God and live in an orderly society
Human Law; Detailed rules deduced from the primary precepts, acting as secondary precepts, can change due to circumstance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

The role of The Magesterium for Heteronymous Christians and the role of ‘Veratitis Splendor’?

A
  • Magesterium is the official church teaching and is revealed in encyclicals
  • Veritatis Splendor by St John Paul II
  • Argues moral law is knowable to all people, we all have a sense of good and evil
  • This is known through NL and through conscience, making us aware of divine law
  • We cannot rely on this alone as we are weak and sinful so the Church’s role is to guide individuals moral decisions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Liberation Theology as support for Heteronymous Christian Ethics

A
  • Places the Bible at the centre of its ethics and is suspicious of the ‘top-down’ Church teaching
  • Liberation theologians are inspired by the biblical theme of liberation from Moses’ escape from Egypt to Jesus’ role as liberator and liberative ethics is ‘ethics from below’
  • They also use Marx to question who has power and how they are benefitting financially, but as it is atheist it is criticised heavily by the Magesterium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Protestant ethical heteronomy - natural law theologians

A
  • Protestant NL theologians, e.g Richard Hooker and Hugo Grotius
  • Idea that the bible did not appear as a single document but rather developed out of reflection and needs of communities
  • Ethics should continue to develop in the worshipping community and be guided by reason, conscience and Church tradition
  • Similar to RC without the Magesterium
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What does Stanley Hauerwas argue?

A
  • Christian ethics can ONLY be done within the Christian worshipping community
  • Christian ethics are a narrative that develop from bible and continue in the history, e.g Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount was part of Judaism tradition but it was used to adapt old values into a new community
  • The values revealed by Jesus are ones that all Christians should develop in their own communities, e.g feed the hungry, show mercy etc
  • These are God-given virtues that Christians should adopt when dealign with disputes in the community
17
Q

Hauerwas’ example of a teenager considering an abortion Quote?

A

“Rather, it is our problem”

18
Q

Problem of sources in Heteronymous Christian Ethics?

A
  • What are legitimate sources, e,g the use of Marx or reason? Are these alien to Christian thinking?
  • Do some sources have greater authority than others, and why?
19
Q

Autonomous Christian Ethics

A
  • Ethics are self-governed
  • There are no separate Christian ethics but just ethics
  • Bible is not a special document but rather a Christian ‘classic’ the same way Shakespeare is
20
Q

What principle do autonomous Christians refer to as the only principle that governs Christian practices?

A
  • Agape
  • This is considered the one guiding principle which shapes the Christian mindset
21
Q

How is Agape displayed through Jesus? (Quote)

A
  • Summarised in Jesus’ own life sacrificed for others and his teaching on ‘other-centredness’ and not ‘self-centredness’
  • “love one another as I have loved you” - John
  • Love is considered the motivating factor by which human reason decides how to best apply moral principles in situations
22
Q

How does Hans Küng argue for RC ethical autonomy through a ‘global ethic’ ?

A
  • Argues that there is nothing in Christian ethics which could not be found by a person of good will
  • If the world is to tackle issues and prevent self-destruction then it must have ‘global ethic’
  • This is a minimal consensus of binding values, not necessarily religious
  • Global ethic is a Christian concern is the motivation to love ones neighbour as they are created in the image of God
23
Q

What is Hans Küng’s example of global ethic regarding euthanasia?

A
  • Argues though it is contrary to official Catholic teaching it is not contrary to the principles of Catholic reasoning and Conscience to conclude life at all costs is not correct
  • The basis for this is that Jesus challenged rule based ethics and encourage disciples to take responsibility for their own actions
  • It is not a question of whether euthanasia is intrinsically good or bad but rather whether it is respectful of a persons life
24
Q

What is Protestant Ethical Autonomy?

A
  • Radical Protestant Christians e.g Joseph Fletcher have the idea that goodness is not revealed in God nor is it intrinsic/NL
  • It is simply a condition of the human
  • Christianity merely highlights it explicitly as the principle of love
  • Otherwise ethics is autonomous and teleological
25
Q

How does Joseph Fletcher argue for ethical autonomy?

A
  • Through his situation ethics
  • Argues that each situation is judged relatively with the principle of love
26
Q

What are the Four working principles that guide us according to Joseph Fletcher?

A

Pragmatism; Considers what should be done to make the situation most loving, all situations are judged individually against the command of love
Relativism; No absolute duties which make people less important than rules, it must be ‘relative to something’ and that is love
Positivism; View that religious laws are not God given or natural but human
Personalism; All humans should be treated as a persons because God is personal and humans are made in his image, they should never be treated as a means to an end

27
Q

Is Love (Agape) Sufficient?

A
  • Can be argued that there is more to Jesus’ teaching than love
  • In the Sermon on the Mount he does not dispense with law but rather look for ways to fulfil it
  • Minimising Christian ethics to just ‘love’ can be sai to be minimising the values that are grounded in Christian narrative, which deal with much more, e.g human nature, forgiveness, redemption etc

Developments in Christian Thought (22 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions